Ancient Rome: A Roman Funeral Banquet: Pigs for the Rich, Chickens for the Poor, and Oats for the Women | culture

In the 1950s, a Roman cemetery (or cemetery) was found in the center of Barcelona, ​​dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The site – Plaça de la Vila de Madrid – was excavated again between 2000 and 2003, when a nearly 500-square-foot funeral complex was discovered. This mass grave – containing the remains or ashes of 66 individuals – was created to bury slaves or free low-income people.

By paying a monthly fee during their lifetime, Romans of the lowest rank could secure a decent burial. However, problems arose when relatives had to hold obligatory ritual banquets in front of the graves, because not everyone could celebrate the deceased as tradition dictated. For example, according to authors such as Cicero, the tomb was only seen after the sacrifice of a boar – an expensive animal out of the reach of slaves or most citizens.

Inside the tomb, in addition to human remains, some animal bones were also found, confirming that the funeral rites required by law – such as feasts and offerings – had indeed been performed. A hole was made in the graves through which food and drink could enter. Offerings, banquets, and animal sacrifices were made to ensure the nourishment and protection of the gods and the memory of the deceased. Archaeologists have also discovered pottery and plants inside the tombs.

In a study for the academic journal Plos One titled “Food for the Soul and Food for the Body: A Study of Dietary Patterns and Funeral Meals in the Western Roman Empire,” the authors explained that “the age, gender, performances, and diet of the buried individuals show some differences… suggesting that the disparities in life can That you also continue the funeral rites.”

The human remains found in Villa de Madrid underwent carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to determine the diet of the buried individuals, in order to compare them with the remains of animals consumed during the funeral banquet. In addition to human remains, animal bones were also analyzed. The analysis determined that 30 percent of the animals identified were pigs, 27.1 percent cows, 24.3 percent goats, and 10 percent chickens. Remains of roe deer, hare and fox have also been documented. The most common bones documented were the scapula, humeral, radius, ulna, pelvis, femur and tibia, indicating that the meat-rich parts were consumed, although they came from ancient animals in order to reduce feasting costs.

“This is an important point, as it indicates that only animals that cannot be exploited for other purposes are slaughtered…therefore, the economic burden of slaughter can be reduced,” the article notes in Plos One.

Rome men and women did not eat the same sources of protein – men generally ate more meat.

“This could mean that social and cultural tastes for food were different between the sexes, or that more males than females had access to protein-rich resources possibly due to customs, social status, wealth, or medical advice.” Roman physicians advised “to eat different kinds of food according to mood.” They thought guys were ‘hot and dry’, so I recommend eating ‘cold, wet food’ like fish. On the other hand, the women were “cold and wet,” so they had to eat “hot, dry food, like oats.”

In summary, the study reveals that “Although offerings and banquets are prescribed by law, not everyone can afford to make lavish or rich offerings. The presence of bird remains and meat-rich parts indicates that relatives of the deceased tried to follow the law as closely as possible.” But it is clear that the poor did not eat like the rich … even in death.